Patents granted to Apple on Tuesday reveal that the company could be working on a device that converts from standard laptop form to tablet form as well as a magnetic connector that provides both power and an optical data connection.

Laptop to tablet

In a Nov. 30 patent entitled "Application Programming Interfaces for Scrolling Operations," Apple depicts a laptop that slides into tablet form as an example of a device that would take advantage of the patent's scrolling operations.

The drawings first show a laptop with a traditional keyboard, body, display frame and display. Then, according to the patent, "the laptop device can be converted into a tablet device" by sliding the display across the keyboard.

Since the patent relates to scrolling operations, it would presumably not cover the convertible laptop to tablet form factor. Apple does, however, disclaim in the application that the patent contains "specific exemplary embodiments."

"It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense," reads the patent.

In its recent revision. to the MacBook Air line, Apple took features from the iPad, such as "solid state storage, instant-on, amazing battery standby time, miniaturization and lightweight construction."

Apple CEO Steve Jobs said during the ultra-thin laptop's unveiling that he and his company had asked themselves, "What would happen if a MacBook and an iPad hooked up?" With both a touchscreen and a keyboard, laptop and tablet configurations, these figures from the scrolling operations patent reveal the possibility of an even closer integration between the two products.

One cable to rule them all

In another patent awarded Tuesday, Apple seeks to reduce the number of cables connected to a laptop device to a single connector that would provide both a power and data connection.

One drawing of the invention depicts what appears to be a MagSafe-like connector attached to a "power and data adapter" with optical, USB, Ethernet, and DVI ports. The adapter would function as both a power brick and a port hub.

Another drawing features a MagSafe connector that splits off into a fiber optic cable with a data adapter and a DC power cable with a power transformer.

The patent could be a first look at Apple's planned implementation of Intel's Light Peak optical cable technology. Intel is reportedly readying Light Peak for an early 2011 release, and Apple is expected to quickly incorporate the technology into its Mac line of computers.

Intel claims Light Peak has a bandwidth of 10Gbps and will scale up to 100Gbps over the next decade. "Optical technology also allows for smaller connectors and longer, thinner, and more flexible cables than currently possible," states Intel on its website.

Apple early on expressed heavy interest in Light Peak, "pushing" Intel to bring it to market. The cabling technology likely appeals to Apple because it would allow the company to roll networking, display, and peripheral cables into one master cable. Tuesday's patent reveals that the Cupertino, Calif., company is attempting to go one step further and bundle an optical cable with a power cable for an even more elegant solution.

Patents granted to Apple on Tuesday reveal that the company is working on a device that converts from standard laptop form to tablet form as well as a magnetic connector that provides both power and an optical data connection.

Laptop to tablet

In a Nov. 30 patent titled "Application Programming Interfaces for Scrolling Operations," Apple depicts a laptop that slides into tablet form as an example of a device that would take advantage of the patent's scrolling operations.

The drawings first show a laptop with a traditional keyboard, body, display frame and display. Then, according to the patent, "the laptop device can be converted into a tablet device" by sliding the display across the keyboard.

Since the patent relates to scrolling operations, it would presumably not cover the convertible laptop to tablet form factor. Apple does, however, disclaim in the application that the patent contains "specific exemplary embodiments."

"It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense," reads the patent.

In its recent revision. to the MacBook Air line, Apple took features from the iPad, such as "solid state storage, instant-on, amazing battery standby time, miniaturization and lightweight construction."

Apple CEO Steve Jobs said during the ultra-thin laptop's unveiling that he and his company had asked themselves, "What would happen if a MacBook and an iPad hooked up?" With both a touchscreen and a keyboard, laptop and tablet configurations, these figures from the scrolling operations patent reveal the possibility of an even closer integration between the two products.

One cable to rule them all

In another patent awarded Tuesday, Apple seeks to reduce the number of cables connected to a laptop device to a single connector that would provide both a power and data connection.

One drawing of the invention depicts what appears to be a MagSafe-like connector attached to a "power and data adapter" with optical, USB, Ethernet, and DVI ports. The adapter would function as both a power brick and a port hub.

Another drawing features a MagSafe connector that splits off into a fiber optic cable with a data adapter and a DC power cable with a power transformer.

The patent could be a first look at Apple's planned implementation of Intel's Light Peak optical cable technology. Intel is reportedly readying Light Peak for an early 2011 release, and Apple is expected to quickly incorporate the technology into its Mac line of computers.

Intel claims Light Peak has a bandwidth of 10Gbps and will scale up to 100Gbps over the next decade. "Optical technology also allows for smaller connectors and longer, thinner, and more flexible cables than currently possible," states Intel on its website.

Apple early on expressed heavy interest in Light Peak, "pushing" Intel to bring it to market. The cabling technology likely appeals to Apple because it would allow the company to roll networking, display, and peripheral cables into one master cable. Tuesday's patent reveals that the Cupertino, Calif., company is attempting to go one step further and bundle an optical cable with a power cable for an even more elegant solution.

A convertible tablet from Apple could be very nice, I guess, although i don't quite get the equivocating language. Are they claiming that they seek to patent the whole idea of a convertible, so they shouldn't be held to whatever implementation they've depicted? Surely not.

As far as yet another adventure in crazy Apple I/O land, lord God help us all. If they want to put additional connectors on a power adapter, great. But I fear it would an excuse to remove all ports from the body of the machines, forcing us to rely on a crowed little dongle to connect to anything other than wirelessly.

Oh, and whaddyaknow-- "first."

They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.

A convertible tablet from Apple could be very nice, I guess, although i don't quite get the equivocating language. Are they claiming that they seek to patent the whole idea of a convertible, so they shouldn't be held to whatever implementation they've depicted? Surely not.

As far as yet another adventure in crazy Apple I/O land, lord God help us all. If they want to put additional connectors on a power adapter, great. But I fear it would an excuse to remove all ports from the body of the machines, forcing us to rely on a crowed little dongle to connect to anything other than wirelessly.

This could further miniaturise the build of devices as currently the industrial design has to allow dimensional factors like the usb and rj45 sockets which you can see constraints the thinness at certain areas on the macbookair. Downfall is having to carry around the external power supply with all the connections if you were on the go and needed to say plug in a usb drive into your device.

This could further miniaturise the build of devices as currently the industrial design has to allow dimensional factors like the usb and rj45 sockets which you can see constraints the thinness at certain areas on the macbookair. Downfall is having to carry around the external power supply with all the connections if you were on the go and needed to say plug in a usb drive into your device.

Maybe this thing is specifically designed for the convertible, as a way to split the difference between the iPad's single dock connector and the needs of a laptop user. When you've got it in pad mode, it barely seems any different from an iPad. When you slide the screen up and plug it in, you've got all your ports and keyboard.

Of course, this also suggests either a hybrid iOS/OS X of some sort, or a dual OS on the fly switching capacity. The tricky part would be to provide some way of moving data between those operating systems.

They spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander, the grand duke, and told stories of his kindness and irascibility.

Apple patents tons of wild ideas, very few of which are ever intended to be productsand not all of the ones that do even make it to market. Theyre often patents just in case they (or someone else) ever wants them. Apples huge patent portfolio is one of its strengths, but a lot of stuff never leaves the portfolio.

This looks like an idea that wont see the light in this formalthough I do expect a gradual merger of iOS and Mac OS as the years go by, and that will indeed mean more ways to have a physical keyboard on an iOS device.

Lets all jump on joshong for quoting the entire article. Way to go, Newb!

Quote:

Originally Posted by addabox

A convertible tablet from Apple could be very nice, I guess, although i don't quite get the equivocating language. Are they claiming that they seek to patent the whole idea of a convertible, so they shouldn't be held to whatever implementation they've depicted? Surely not.

These patent look very familiar to me. I think I saw these when they were first submitted. In either case, I think a convertible notebook could happen, but as much as Apple hates moving parts and with the release of the new MBAs Id wager it would be a good two years before it would hit the market.

Quote:

As far as yet another adventure in crazy Apple I/O land, lord God help us all. If they want to put additional connectors on a power adapter, great. But I fear it would an excuse to remove all ports from the body of the machines, forcing us to rely on a crowed little dongle to connect to anything other than wirelessly.

Think LightPeak. Sure, its "protocol independent but there will need to be a physical layer conversion from optical to copper with various ports for whatever connection type one wants to make. This is one accessory Id expect Apple to release alongside LightPeak.

Another issue is the eventual conversion of iDevices to optical. I dont think its possible for Apple to use the 30-pin connector with the unused copper FireWire pins being turned into optical ports. If that is true, they may have offer some way to convert the optical signal from iDevices back to copper outside the iDevice for older PCs. Even if LightPeak itself isnt adopted by Apple, they will eventually adopt some optical connecter so this is an impending issue at some point.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Which would be cool, but as I say, I fear that if Apple heads this way it will be in order to remove ports from the body of their machines.

OTOH, now that I think about it, a power adapter is the one accessory most people keep with their laptop at all times, so at least you'd be likely to have it around if you needed to hook something up.

I think sfocals comment is on target, whether it be an Apple Display with a single connector to charge the machine and connect all ports with a single cable, or be a stand alone docking bay, but I doubt they would be removing ports. In fact, I think that once the ODD goes well actually get additional ports as more will fit since it would free up over 5 of port-side space.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Trying to figure out what the other end of that cable is going to look like. Normally it just plugs into the 120VAC wall outlet.

I’d think the ports would be on the power supply. Remember that the DC plug is interchangeable with a 6” DC power cable and plug.

Also note that one of Voodoo’s innovation with the now defunct Envy 133 ultra-light notebook was an Ethernet 10/100 jack in the power supply that would transmit WiFi to the noteboook. This may seem dumb but like the MBA it was too thin for an RJ-45 jack, but if you only have a wired connection you could still access the net and even make it a WiFi hotspot without using a dongle and taking up a USN port, like with the MBA.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

How can a "laptop to tablet" form factor be patentable? The idea was implemented a decade ago.

US patent law is very vague. If there are a few distinguishable differences from a previously patented invention a new patent can be granted. If there is a conflict, the complaints are decided in court, not by the patent office with the original filing. Welcome AI. What does your handle translate to in western phonetics?

Id think the ports would be on the power supply. Remember that the DC plug is interchangeable with a 6 DC power cable and plug.

Also note that one of Voodoos innovation with the now defunct Envy 133 ultra-light notebook was an Ethernet 10/100 jack in the power supply that would transmit WiFi to the noteboook. This may seem dumb but like the MBA it was too thin for an RJ-45 jack, but if you only have a wired connection you could still access the net and even make it a WiFi hotspot without using a dongle and taking up a USN port, like with the MBA.

Trying to figure out what the other end of that cable is going to look like. Normally it just plugs into the 120VAC wall outlet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstone

Whoa. Totally lost me.

Perhaps I misunderstood what you were saying. I’m addressing how the power supply could be designed and used an example that has already been on the market. It sounded like you are focusing on the part of the power supply that extended to the pronged connector. Think of the Airport Express.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Perhaps I misunderstood what you were saying. I’m addressing how the power supply could be designed and used an example that has already been on the market. It sounded like you are focusing on the part of the power supply that extended to the pronged connector. Think of the Airport Express.

Ok I see. Not sold yet. I like my ports up on the desk where I can use them easily.

Ok I see. Not sold yet. I like my ports up on the desk where I can use them easily.

Oh, I’m not advocating losing all ports, just showing potential ways this could happen with the power supply. Maybe in the distant future when LightPeak is as common as USB is today and USB and RJ-45 ports are removed, then having them on the power supply could be an option.

I do think a MagSafe + LightPeak would be pretty slick for connecting an Apple Display to a Mac notebook.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Oh, Im not advocating losing all ports, just showing potential ways this could happen with the power supply. Maybe in the distant future when LightPeak is as common as USB is today and USB and RJ-45 ports are removed, then having them on the power supply could be an option.

I do think a MagSafe + LightPeak would be pretty slick for connecting an Apple Display to a Mac notebook.

Ok very cool. I can see the apple branded knee pads for plugging in your peripherals under the desk. I do a little bit of traveling and the infrastructure in other countries sometimes makes you wonder why you didn't pack a 10 ft. extension cord. Apple is patenting all kinds of things but mostly it seems defensive, because this stuff isn't going to happen for years to come, if ever.

Which would be cool, but as I say, I fear that if Apple heads this way it will be in order to remove ports from the body of their machines.

OTOH, now that I think about it, a power adapter is the one accessory most people keep with their laptop at all times, so at least you'd be likely to have it around if you needed to hook something up.

That's one possibility yes, though I suspect they will use it as an addition to their full laptops to allow for a standardized dock connection the way iPhone/iPod/iPad have a standardized connector for accessories & power. The fact that the MBAir added a second USB port shows Apple heard the consumer's cry that reducing ports isn't always a win.

This would be in line with their desire to appeal more to businesses & also follows their plans with Lion to simplify the way developers bring apps to the Mac by presenting the possibility to simplify hardware accessory integration as well. Apple has learned a lot from the iPad/iPhone experience & it's looking more & more like they are applying those lessons to the full Mac platform of hardware & software.

If what I say is true this will be HUUUUGE, much more than I think many people realize. The single most talked about issue in our organization regarding Macs is lack of docking capabilities & centralized software management. Think iPhone config tool but more advanced for locking down & managing machines, that would totally rock! Add to that Developer APIs like what you find for iOS & you have a very powerful platform for locking down & managing corporate Macs. As an IT support person of Macs this makes me drool thinking of the possibilities.

Convertible tablets are never designed well and I can't see an Apple one being any different. The patent picture shows no trackpad, so you have to touch the screen and Apple already said this was too tiring to do.

Then you have the curved display casing so you'd have to make a curved receptacle for it to sit into along with a big ugly slider to move the screen along.

The tablet form factor is the way to go so they should just forget the physical keyboard altogether. One simple reason is that you can't put it in portrait mode while typing unless you buy another keyboard.

It would be so thin if they just put the screen directly onto the machine as they wouldn't need a curved back.

I think the magnetic connector is a decent idea but if they only put that on the machine, it means you can't use USB, video out etc without being plugged in. It also means that if you trip over the cable, it will disconnect your peripherals, possibly while copying files. Imagine you have two backup drives connected and are copying files from one to the other, trip over the cable and both drives disconnect.

Given that magsafe takes up one port size, they could put a single USB + mini-dp on the other side to reduce the MBA tapering further and use the magsafe + optical to cover everything else.

At least it shows they are thinking about how to get OS X to work with touch alone.

I've suspected for a long time that this would be one significant use of LightPeak. I one swooP Apple can solve a lot of problems associated with docks. It also highlights that standard ports like USB aren't going away anytime soon.

I'm with other though when I say that this better not be an excuse to delete all other ports from a laptop. Those ports are still needed in the field.

Oh I do hope that the MagSafe connector is compatible with the current ones. This to have some sort of power adapter interchangeability in the field.

In any event all of these patent filings have me excited about 2011. I might not be able to afford an update next year but may end up very tempted anyways.

That's one possibility yes, though I suspect they will use it as an addition to their full laptops to allow for a standardized dock connection the way iPhone/iPod/iPad have a standardized connector for accessories & power. The fact that the MBAir added a second USB port shows Apple heard the consumer's cry that reducing ports isn't always a win.

Unfortunately it seems to be a lessson that Apple has to learn again and again. Hot sales of the new AIRs should be teaching Apple something though. The main problem is that USB will be a requirement for a very very long time. It (USB) is just so cheap LightPeak won't be competeing anytime soon.

If anything a port like this might lead to more USB ports on the portables. If Apple can do away with FireWire, Ethernet and the video ports there will be plenty of space for additional USB ports or card slots like SD.

When it comes right down to it deleting the Ethernet, FireWire and video ports makes a lot of sense in the smaller laptops. Any or all of those become available when docked and where they will be used the most.

Quote:

This would be in line with their desire to appeal more to businesses & also follows their plans with Lion to simplify the way developers bring apps to the Mac by presenting the possibility to simplify hardware accessory integration as well. Apple has learned a lot from the iPad/iPhone experience & it's looking more & more like they are applying those lessons to the full Mac platform of hardware & software.

I think the lessons learned with the iOas devices are pretty thin when it comes to Macs. Instead it is a school of hard knocks taught by failures like the original AIR, the XServes and other Apple boondoggles with respect to personal computing. One of the big lessons I suspect is that people willing to pay the Apple Tax are not willing to shell out that extra cash for junk or limited functionality hardware.

Quote:

If what I say is true this will be HUUUUGE, much more than I think many people realize.

A good docking solution will likely serve Apples customers well. The trick is a sound implementation. If it fails like many of the Dell docking solutions it will be a bust.

Quote:

The single most talked about issue in our organization regarding Macs is lack of docking capabilities & centralized software management. Think iPhone config tool but more advanced for locking down & managing machines, that would totally rock!

Err no! This might not make sense to you but locked down machines are anti business. They inhibit productivity to such a degree that you have to wonder about the people in the IT departments implementing such features. In the end I have to think the only motivation is to keep the IT kingdom intact and expanding. It is no surprise that many companies have backed away from this excessive control and resorted more enlightened PC management. Some have gone so far as to supply users with the cash to simply buy their own hardware.

Quote:

Add to that Developer APIs like what you find for iOS & you have a very powerful platform for locking down & managing corporate Macs. As an IT support person of Macs this makes me drool thinking of the possibilities.

Frankly it makes me cringe as it serves no useful purpose. It certainly doesn't control costs and certainly does little for corporate security.

App store on the Mac and an update system like is seen in app store would be a beautiful thing as it would greatly reduce the need for IT support. Further it would increase productivity by eliminating all the levels of IT support one has to go through to install basic apps. Further all of this would happen without all of the issues associated with installing software on Windows machines. You see Apples initiatives as making your job easier, I see it as a way to reduce costs and eliminate jobs.

t will likely be a decade or more before USB ports are completely gone.

That seems optimistically short to me. We can say that optical is the future (and in many ways it will be), but so far the adoption has been slow and the cost for is high, and itll still need to be converted back to electrical for the foreseeable future. I see no reason at this time why the USB connector wont be able to move into a USB4.0 standard for even faster throughput over cooper in the next generation.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Having a cable attached to your laptop all the time kind of defeats the purpose of a laptop!
It is a portable after all!

I can see complaints from users who connect via ethernet once the mag safe disconnects and their connection is lost. It would also be inconvenient to have to connect the power in order to use a USB thumb drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by addabox

Which would be cool, but as I say, I fear that if Apple heads this way it will be in order to remove ports from the body of their machines.

OTOH, now that I think about it, a power adapter is the one accessory most people keep with their laptop at all times, so at least you'd be likely to have it around if you needed to hook something up.

The power brick can't have all the connections for a laptop because I need to have connections when I'm running on battery only.
Now, what it could be for is the next iPad. It will be a way to connect devices to the iPad, iPod touch and iPhone.